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Stewart J, Bino G, Hawke T, Kingsford RT. Seasonal and geographic variation in packed cell volume and selected serum chemistry of platypuses. Sci Rep 2021; 11:15932. [PMID: 34354187 PMCID: PMC8342447 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-95544-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2020] [Accepted: 07/27/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Platypuses (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) inhabit the permanent rivers and creeks of eastern Australia, from north Queensland to Tasmania, but are experiencing multiple and synergistic anthropogenic threats. Baseline information of health is vital for effective monitoring of populations but is currently sparse for mainland platypuses. Focusing on seven hematology and serum chemistry metrics as indicators of health and nutrition (packed cell volume (PCV), total protein (TP), albumin, globulin, urea, creatinine, and triglycerides), we investigated their variation across the species' range and across seasons. We analyzed 249 unique samples collected from platypuses in three river catchments in New South Wales and Victoria. Health metrics significantly varied across the populations' range, with platypuses from the most northerly catchment, having lower PCV, and concentrations of albumin and triglycerides and higher levels of globulin, potentially reflecting geographic variation or thermal stress. The Snowy River showed significant seasonal patterns which varied between the sexes and coincided with differential reproductive stressors. Male creatinine and triglyceride levels were significantly lower than females, suggesting that reproduction is energetically more taxing on males. Age specific differences were also found, with juvenile PCV and TP levels significantly lower than adults. Additionally, the commonly used body condition index (tail volume index) was only negatively correlated with urea, and triglyceride levels. A meta-analysis of available literature revealed a significant latitudinal relationship with PCV, TP, albumin, and triglycerides but this was confounded by variation in sampling times and restraint methods. We expand understanding of mainland platypuses, providing reference intervals for PCV and six blood chemistry, while highlighting the importance of considering seasonal variation, to guide future assessments of individual and population condition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jana Stewart
- Centre for Ecosystem Science, School of Biological, Earth & Environmental Sciences, UNSW, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia.
| | - Gilad Bino
- Centre for Ecosystem Science, School of Biological, Earth & Environmental Sciences, UNSW, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia
| | - Tahneal Hawke
- Centre for Ecosystem Science, School of Biological, Earth & Environmental Sciences, UNSW, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia
| | - Richard T Kingsford
- Centre for Ecosystem Science, School of Biological, Earth & Environmental Sciences, UNSW, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia
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Brandimarti ME, Gray R, Silva FRO, Herbert CA. Kangaroos at maximum capacity: health assessment of free-ranging eastern grey kangaroos on a coastal headland. J Mammal 2021; 102:837-851. [PMID: 34385895 PMCID: PMC8355480 DOI: 10.1093/jmammal/gyab022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2020] [Accepted: 02/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Sprawling urban development is fragmenting the landscape and native wildlife habitats on the Australian east coast. The impact of this rapid urbanization on wildlife health is largely unknown. This study surveyed the health of a high-density (5.4 individuals per ha) population of eastern grey kangaroos (Macropus giganteus) affected by urban encroachment and prolonged drought. Blood parameters (hematological and serum protein), trace element and heavy metal concentrations, and parasite counts (fecal worm egg counts, ticks, and mites) are reported for a sample of ≤ 54 kangaroos at Look at Me Now Headland, New South Wales, Australia. These parameters were compared to lower density kangaroo populations from other sites in New South Wales. We found the health and welfare of this population to be severely compromised, with nonregenerative anemia and nutritional deficiencies evident. Our results indicate that high-density kangaroo populations isolated by urban encroachment are at significant health risk. To prevent further decline in this population’s health, we discuss management strategies that could be employed, concurrent with ongoing health and disease monitoring, to mitigate the poor health outcomes in this population. We conclude that it is essential to retain habitat connectivity when altering land use in areas with resident kangaroo populations if managers are to maintain healthy populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maquel E Brandimarti
- School of Life and Environmental Science, The University of Sydney, JD Stewart Building, Camperdown, New South Wales 2006, Australia
| | - Rachael Gray
- Sydney School of Veterinary Science, The University of Sydney, McMaster Building, Camperdown, New South Wales 2006, Australia
| | - Fabiola R O Silva
- School of Life and Environmental Science, The University of Sydney, JD Stewart Building, Camperdown, New South Wales 2006, Australia
| | - Catherine A Herbert
- School of Life and Environmental Science, The University of Sydney, JD Stewart Building, Camperdown, New South Wales 2006, Australia
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Old JM, Stannard HJ. Conservation of quolls (Dasyurus spp.) in captivity – a review. AUSTRALIAN MAMMALOGY 2021. [DOI: 10.1071/am20033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Quolls are carnivorous marsupials in the family Dasyuridae with characteristic white spots. They are distributed throughout Australia and New Guinea, but uncommonly seen due to their mostly nocturnal solitary nature, and large home ranges. All Australian quolls are listed as ‘near threatened’ or ‘endangered’ at state, national and international levels, largely due to human-induced threats. Threats include introduced predators, habitat loss through clearing and modifications including changed fire regimes, disease, human persecution, vehicle collisions and accidental or targeted poisoning by humans and cane toads (Rhinella marina). Conservation efforts that have focussed on reducing introduced predators, and minimising the impact of cane toads, have aided some translocations, hence species recovery in some local areas of Australia has occurred. Where species conservation has required captive breeding for translocation, successful captive management has been crucial. We summarise research conducted in captivity on aspects of birth and development, health and disease, and blood and nutrition parameters of quolls, and suggest future directions for research. Further research on captive and wild quoll populations will benefit future translocations, reintroductions and conservation through increased knowledge, improved maintenance and husbandry of captive colonies, and monitoring of wild populations.
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Evans MN, Guerrero-Sanchez S, Kille P, Müller CT, Bakar MSA, Goossens B. Physiological implications of life at the forest interface of oil palm agriculture: blood profiles of wild Malay civets ( Viverra tangalunga). CONSERVATION PHYSIOLOGY 2020; 8:coaa127. [PMID: 33408869 PMCID: PMC7772617 DOI: 10.1093/conphys/coaa127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2020] [Revised: 11/23/2020] [Accepted: 12/03/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Agricultural development is a major threat to global biodiversity, and effective conservation actions are crucial. Physiological repercussions of life alongside human-modified landscapes can undermine adaptable species' health and population viability; however, baseline data are lacking for many wildlife species. We assessed the physiological status of a generalist carnivore, the Malay civet (Viverra tangalunga), persisting within an extensively human-modified system in Sabah, Malaysian Borneo. We characterized hematology and serum biochemistry panels from civets sampled across a mosaic landscape comprising tropical forest fragments and oil palm plantations. Intra-population variation in certain blood parameters were explained by expected biological drivers such as sex, age category and sampling season. Furthermore, we determined several erythrocyte measures, immune cell counts and dietary biochemistry markers significantly varied with proximity to oil palm plantation boundaries. These findings were supported by a case study, whereby blood profiles of GPS collared male civets were contrasted based on their exclusive use of forests or use of oil palm plantations. These data provide robust and valuable first insights into this species' physiological status and suggest agricultural landscapes are impacting the persisting population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meaghan N Evans
- School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF10 3AX, UK
- Danau Girang Field Centre, Kota Kinabalu 88100, Malaysia
| | - Sergio Guerrero-Sanchez
- School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF10 3AX, UK
- Danau Girang Field Centre, Kota Kinabalu 88100, Malaysia
| | - Peter Kille
- School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF10 3AX, UK
| | | | | | - Benoit Goossens
- School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF10 3AX, UK
- Danau Girang Field Centre, Kota Kinabalu 88100, Malaysia
- Sustainable Places Research Institute, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF10 3BA, UK
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Brandimarti ME, Gray R, Coulson G, Cripps JK, Wilson ME, Death C, Snape M, Wimpenny C, Silva FRO, Miller EJ, Scanes E, Spielman D, Thomas G, Herbert CA. Reference intervals for parameters of health of eastern grey kangaroos Macropus giganteus and management implications across their geographic range. WILDLIFE BIOLOGY 2020. [DOI: 10.2981/wlb.00692] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Maquel E. Brandimarti
- M. E. Brandimarti (https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4055-6623) ✉ , G. Thomas, C. A. Herbert (https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0174-0898), F. R. O. Silva and E. Scanes (https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7520-3804), School of Life and
| | - Rachael Gray
- R. Gray and D. Spielman, Sydney School of Veterinary Science, The Univ. of Sydney, Camperdown, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Graeme Coulson
- G. Coulson (https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9873-8203), J. K. Cripps (https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3049-5510) and M. E. Wilson, School of BioSciences, The Univ. of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. JKC also at: Dept of Environment, Land, Water an
| | - Jemma K. Cripps
- G. Coulson (https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9873-8203), J. K. Cripps (https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3049-5510) and M. E. Wilson, School of BioSciences, The Univ. of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. JKC also at: Dept of Environment, Land, Water an
| | - Michelle E. Wilson
- G. Coulson (https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9873-8203), J. K. Cripps (https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3049-5510) and M. E. Wilson, School of BioSciences, The Univ. of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. JKC also at: Dept of Environment, Land, Water an
| | - Clare Death
- C. Death, Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, The Univ. of Melbourne, Werribee, Victoria, Australia
| | - Melissa Snape
- M. Snape and C. Wimpenny, Conservation Research, Environment, Planning and Sustainable Development Directorate, ACT Government, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Claire Wimpenny
- M. Snape and C. Wimpenny, Conservation Research, Environment, Planning and Sustainable Development Directorate, ACT Government, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Fabiola Rodrigues Oliveira Silva
- M. E. Brandimarti (https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4055-6623) ✉ , G. Thomas, C. A. Herbert (https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0174-0898), F. R. O. Silva and E. Scanes (https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7520-3804), School of Life and
| | - Emily J. Miller
- E. J. Miller, The Univ. of Sydney, Camperdown, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Elliot Scanes
- M. E. Brandimarti (https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4055-6623) ✉ , G. Thomas, C. A. Herbert (https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0174-0898), F. R. O. Silva and E. Scanes (https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7520-3804), School of Life and
| | - Derek Spielman
- R. Gray and D. Spielman, Sydney School of Veterinary Science, The Univ. of Sydney, Camperdown, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Georgia Thomas
- M. E. Brandimarti (https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4055-6623) ✉ , G. Thomas, C. A. Herbert (https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0174-0898), F. R. O. Silva and E. Scanes (https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7520-3804), School of Life and
| | - Catherine A. Herbert
- M. E. Brandimarti (https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4055-6623) ✉ , G. Thomas, C. A. Herbert (https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0174-0898), F. R. O. Silva and E. Scanes (https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7520-3804), School of Life and
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BASELINE HEALTH AND DISEASE ASSESSMENT OF FOUNDER EASTERN QUOLLS ( DASYURUS VIVERRINUS) DURING A CONSERVATION TRANSLOCATION TO MAINLAND AUSTRALIA. J Wildl Dis 2020; 56:547-559. [PMID: 32017663 DOI: 10.7589/2019-05-120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
We evaluated the health of 31 (eight males, 23 females) founder eastern quolls (Dasyurus viverrinus), translocated to a fenced reserve in the Australian Capital Territory between February 2016 and July 2017. Quolls were wild caught in Tasmania (16 animals) or captive bred at Mount Rothwell Biodiversity Interpretation Centre, Victoria (15 animals). Quolls were assessed for the presence of selected potential pathogens (Toxoplasma gondii, herpesviruses, Salmonella serovars, hemoprotozoa, and ectoparasites). We assessed the relationships among sex, provenance (captive or free ranging), T. gondii or herpesvirus infection, weight, and hematologic and biochemical variables. Six of 21 quolls (29%) tested were seropositive for antibodies to T. gondii. Seropositive quolls weighed significantly more and had significantly lower potassium levels, anion gaps, and urea and triglyceride levels than seronegative quolls had. Eighteen of 31 (58%) combined conjunctival-pharyngeal-cloacal swabs collected from quolls were PCR positive for a newly identified gammaherpesvirus, tentatively named dasyurid gammaherpesvirus 3. There were no significant differences among hematologic and biochemical variables or body weights from PCR-positive and PCR-negative quolls. Eighteen of 18 (100%) of rectal-swab samples were culture negative for Salmonella serovars. Three species of tick (Ixodes tasmani, Ixodes fecialis, and Ixodes holocyclus), two species of mite (Andreacus radfordi, one unidentified), and four species of flea (Pygiopsylla hoplia, Acanthopsylla rothschildi rothschildi, Uropsylla tasmanica, and Stephanocircus dasyuri), were detected on wild-caught quolls, whereas a fifth species of flea, Echidnophaga myremecobii, was detected only on captive-bred quolls. Five of 15 blood samples (33%) were positive for hemoprotozoan DNA via PCR, a novel Hepatozoon species, a novel Theileria species, Theileria paparinii, and Trypanosoma copemani were detected. Despite the presence of several potential pathogens known to be associated with disease in other marsupials, the quolls were considered to be in good general health, suitable for translocation, and a viable population was subsequently established.
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